The Game of Life-Chapter 720 - 719: The Invitation is Sent Out
Chapter 720: Chapter 719: The Invitation is Sent Out
This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.
Qiu Fu needed to adapt to the kitchen of Taifeng Building and get along with the other staff for a few days before he could officially start working, but Sun Maochai and Sun Jikai had no such issue.
Sun Jikai could also be considered an old employee of Taifeng Building. Except for the few new recruits from New Year’s Day who were already very familiar to everyone, a simple greeting was enough for him to take up his post. Those responsible for the water station and the cutting blocks even knew what kind of ingredients he preferred.
Sun Maochai was the head chef, and at the same time, a master of Cantonese cuisine. It was only others who needed to accommodate him, not the other way around.
Fan Mei and Wang Xiulian discussed it for a long time yesterday and decided to set the Midsummer Banquet for August 6th, which was in four days. Fan Mei felt that the Midsummer Banquet was not only about introducing Taifeng Building’s new dishes but also an opportunity to showcase the skills of the two new Cantonese chefs, and it was better early than late. Four days were enough to send out invitations and prepare.
The list for invitations had already been prepared, and after yesterday’s phone calls confirmed the availability of the guests, the number was finalized at fifty people. Unlike the grand opening, not countless media were invited, but only diners. There were Taifeng’s loyal customers, loyal patrons from top-tier restaurants, and a few ordinary diners who were randomly selected because they had dined there before, written reviews, and left their phone numbers. High-priced, top-tier banquets, like a head chef’s tasting menu in a top-floor restaurant, benefited little from media advertising. Praise from diners and word-of-mouth was what truly mattered since the consumer group that could afford it was small, and reputation was more important than anything.
Ji Yue and Fan Mei went out early to send out the invitations, mailing them by express delivery to both local and non-local addresses. The ones to non-local addresses would probably arrive the next day, while those within the same city could be expected by the afternoon if sent in the morning.
With the Midsummer Banquet fast approaching, Jiang Feng was pondering other matters.
He was figuring out how to get Ouyang Yang to come over for a meal of Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.
Ouyang Yang was originally within the scope of invitations for the Midsummer Banquet, but when Fan Mei called to invite him yesterday, he politely declined, as he had an important contract to discuss on August 6th and truly had no time to fly in from the south. Jiang Feng believed this, for Ouyang Yang, though he hadn’t visited Taifeng Building for a while, would unlikely refuse an invitation to such a banquet. In fact, unless seriously occupied, no diner would refuse an invitation to the Midsummer Banquet.
Ji Yue told Jiang Feng that when she called to inform one lucky randomly-selected person yesterday, there was even an excited cheer on the other end of the line. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in the world, but few could resist a free and delicious lunch—unless they really weren’t into eating.
Even while eating lunch, Jiang Feng was pondering how to get Ouyang Yang to come over for a serving of Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon.
As Jiang Feng absentmindedly nibbled at the stir-fried shrimp in his plate, he mumbled to himself, and his mumbles eventually turned audible, overheard by Sun Jikai, who sat opposite him.
“Ouyang Yang?” Sun Jikai caught the keyword.
“You know him too?” Jiang Feng was surprised.
“Of course, I know him. He’s an old patron of Jubao House. I used to see him often in the restaurant when I was learning to cook with my grandfather as a child. What about him?” Even though Jubao House was basically unrelated to Sun Jikai now, he still habitually referred to it as ‘our Jubao House.’
“Nothing much. Manager Fan called to invite him to the Midsummer Banquet yesterday, but he declined since he has commitments on the 6th. It came to mind, so I mumbled a bit,” said Jiang Feng.
“That’s normal. His family’s business is all down south; he can’t be free all the time,” Sun Jikai didn’t think much of it and glanced at the happily dining Qiu Fu before asking quietly, “Did Master Qiu just say you’re going to teach him the thickening technique for Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon? Is that true?”
“Of course, it’s true. If you and Master Qiu learn how to do the sauce for Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon, then I won’t have to make this dish anymore,” said Jiang Feng. “My mom can book more outings, and Master Qiu will surely dish out something even tastier than I can.”
Although Sun Jikai was already used to the open and sharing nature of the Jiang Family, he still felt somewhat uncomfortable: “Aren’t you worried… after all, Eight Treasures Chestnut Fragrant Pigeon is still a secret recipe, only you know how to make it.”
“But you know it too,” said Jiang Feng.
“I don’t know it yet,” said Sun Jikai.
“Sooner or later, it’s something you’ll have to learn.” Jiang Feng took a bite of his meal, unperturbed.
Sun Jikai sighed, expressing his thoughts, “If only my grandfather had thought like you, Jubao Building wouldn’t have ended up like this.”
Jiang Feng: ?
Why did Sun Jikai suddenly seem to age forty years?
After finishing his meal, Jiang Feng rested for a bit and chatted with Ji Yue about whether there had been any good shows worth watching recently. Learning that the latest shows had all ended poorly, he gave up on watching and went to the kitchen to practice making Ten Thousand Fortune Meat.
He had given it a try in the morning; although it was possible to cut such small pieces of meat, it was tough. When slicing, one needed to be extra careful. A slight deviation could spoil the whole thing, which is no wonder Cao Guixiang took nearly an hour to cut four pieces of meat. Jiang Feng had lain in bed the previous night thinking for a long time, feeling that if he could not save much on the seasoning to make it strong enough, he should put more effort into his knifework. If he could cut it perfectly, the final product would definitely not disappoint.
Sun Maochai had already fully adapted to the daily life of a head chef; after eating lunch, he went to the teahouse with the two elders, looking quite proficient.
On his first day at work, Qiu Fu was quite cautious. Seeing that Jiang Feng went into the kitchen to practice cooking after his meal, he followed suit, and so did Sun Jikai, putting in unpaid overtime to practice boning the pigeons.
The only thing that took Jiang Feng by surprise was that Wu Minqi was also in the kitchen, making spicy dumplings.
It was August, the peak of summer. Even without walking under the direct sun at noon for more than a few minutes, one could feel as if they’d been sunburned. If the temperature rose a bit more, without air conditioning or a fan, it could even be deadly hot. Although the kitchen had high-powered electric fans, it could not change the fact that it was like a furnace.
Wu Minqi was a bit intolerant of heat. In spring, autumn, and winter, she would often stay in the kitchen to practice with Jiang Feng, but rarely in the summer. Usually, she would find a café to sit in with air conditioning or simply go upstairs to find a private room, turn on the air conditioner, and take a nap. Just for napping, Wu Minqi had two pillows in her locker.
“Qiqi, it’s too hot in the kitchen; don’t stay here. If you want to make spicy dumplings, I can make them with you at home tonight.”
After Jiang Feng had sliced two pieces of meat, he noticed Wu Minqi was still making spicy dumplings, and she had already filled half a basin. He estimated it would take a week to eat them all.
Wu Minqi shook her head: “No need, I’ve been wanting to practice making spicy dumplings recently, starting with making the dumplings and practicing a lot.”
“Why the sudden interest in practicing dumplings?” Jiang Feng was puzzled, as spicy dumplings were considered a staple food, and the leap Wu Minqi was making in her cooking practice was big, almost catching up with him.
“I was talking to my mom on the phone last night and mentioned the spicy dumplings from the breakfast stall downstairs when I was a kid, and suddenly I wanted to practice,” Wu Minqi chuckled. “By the way, Fengfeng, we might have to eat spicy dumplings for breakfast these days. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Not at all, not at all,” Jiang Feng quickly said, “I like whatever you make.”
Sun Jikai, who was on the opposite side boning pigeons for Qiqi: …
Can you consider the feelings of us singles when you talk?
I’m working overtime here. Can’t you create a harmonious and friendly environment for the employees?
